(Wave Of Noise)

Otherwise quite good...

I’ve Only Ever Lived In Rivertowns sounds dated. I was initially drawn to the album by the fact that it was recorded by Nao Anzai – a man with underground favourites like Grey Daturas and Because Of Ghosts on his production CV – but this isn’t his latest work. Initially recorded in 2005, the album inadvertently carries three years of indie guitar rock baggage, while struggling to find its own vibe in a handful of increasingly referenced genres. The record starts strong enough: the angular post-punk guitars on opener Northern Boy and follow-up Rivertowns contrast Sam Wareing’s voice well. The climax of the latter song is genuinely spine-tingling, rivalling those of Melbourne contemporaries (and collaborators) Laura. Unfortunately, the rest of the album feels like a hangover by comparison; heavily populated by light post-rock inflections and sustained lapses into psychedelia. Dirge-pop vocals override the instrumental subtlety at every juncture, imposing unwanted structure and dragging the listener (kicking and screaming) back to torrid mental associations with radio-friendliness. That’s a shame, because The Mime Set do so many things right on this recording, but the passing of time and an ambiguous focus has ultimately taken them out of context.

JAKEB SMITH

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*